Alright, so I’ve been wanting to try my hand at remaking something luxurious, and what’s more luxurious than a Patek Philippe? I decided to go with the Golden Ellipse 5738R model. It’s got this classic, clean look that I just love. I thought it’d be a fun challenge to see if I could recreate something so high-end on my own.
First off, I spent a good chunk of time just staring at pictures of the 5738R online. I needed to really get a feel for its dimensions, the way the rose gold case shines, and that simple, elegant black dial. This watch is all about proportions, inspired by that “golden ratio” thing the ancient Greeks were obsessed with. So, getting the shape right was my top priority.
I started by sketching out the elliptical case. It’s not a perfect oval, mind you, it’s got these specific curves that follow that 1 / 1.6181 ratio. I redrew it like a million times, using a ruler and a compass, trying to nail that shape. Once I was happy with the outline, I moved onto making a 3D model. I used some modeling software I’m not professional with, but hey, that’s what learning is all about, right?
For the case material, I went with a rose gold effect, it looks pretty close to the real thing in the renders. I spent a lot of time getting the reflections and the slight gleam just right. I also tried to get the hands and the hour markers to look as close as possible to the original. They’re simple but elegant, just like the real deal.
- Case Shape: Spent hours sketching and modeling that elliptical shape.
- Material: Created a rose gold effect in my 3D software, polished it up real nice.
- Dial: Kept it simple and clean, with rose gold-colored hands and markers.
The trickiest part was probably the strap. In the pictures, it’s this shiny black alligator leather. I tried to find a texture online that matched, but in the end, I had to kind of make my own, layering different textures and adjusting the shine until it looked somewhat right. It’s not perfect, but it gives off that luxurious vibe I was going for.
Challenges and Compromises
Of course, I ran into a few snags. Getting the exact thickness of the case was tough. The real 5738R is super thin, only about 6mm. I tried to keep mine slim, but without the actual measurements, it was a bit of a guessing game. And let’s not even talk about the movement inside. The real one has this fancy automatic caliber 240, which is known for being incredibly thin. I didn’t even attempt to recreate that, my focus was purely on the outside look.
In the end, I think I managed to capture the essence of the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. It’s not a perfect replica, and I’m sure a watch expert could spot a hundred things wrong with it, but for a personal project, I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It was a great learning experience, and it gave me a new appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into these luxury watches.
If I were to do it again, I’d probably try to get more precise measurements of the case. And maybe, just maybe, I’d attempt to model a simplified version of the movement, just for fun. But for now, I’m happy with my little digital tribute to one of the most elegant watches out there. I hope you enjoy seeing these comparison images!
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